and again of the Eleventh Congress, 1809-'11. His application to Governor Williams for pardon, has been published; and is admired as being eloquent and dignified.
I have in my possession, the original petition of the members of the legislature to the governor, asking this pardon, signed by Duncan Cameron, Calvin Jones, John Allison, Peter Hoyle, David Tate, Daniel Glisson, Durant Hatch, John G. Scull, W. Lord, Peter Forney, Ephm. Davidson, George Outlaw, Robert Williams, and others.
In his political campaigns,
in discussions in the legislature, and in debate at the bar, and even in private
life, Mr. Stanly's course towards his opponents was marked with violence.
Speaking of the unamiable trait in his character, Mr. Miller states: "Judge
Donnell was an able, quiet, obstrusive, upright gentleman. He bore with great
"Richard D. Spaight held a license to practice law, but was wealthy and diffident, he was not destitute of talents and learning."
"I always suspected that Mr. Stanly was an obstacle to the professional success of Mr. Spaight, as Stanly was a man of imperious temper, and not satisfied with killing the father of Mr. Spaight, he seemed to delight in torturing the son, by looks and gestures, and intonations of his voice, when other methods were not used."*
* See our Living and our
Dead, November, 1874.
Mr. Stanly married a daughter of Martin Frank, of Jones County, whose handsome estate laid the foundation of his fortune. But it was not permanent. In the Recollections of New Berne fifty years ago, the writer says:*
* Stephen F. Miller, in our
Living and Dead, November, 1874
"Mrs. Stanly was a country heiress, without cultivation or opportunity. Their nanatures and habits were incompatible; she was a shouting Methodist, he a staid vestryman of the orthodox Episcopal church." His affairs became so embarrassed, that debts and judgments pressed him. To the kindness of a personal and political friend, he owned the house in which he lived and died. Here harrassed by creditors, with a body helpless from disease, a mere wreck of his former self; he died August 3rd, 1835. We may well recall at such a scene, the words of Ophelia:
Mr. Stanly left one daughter,
who married Walker K. Armstead, then an officer in the United States army,
against Mr. Stanly's wishes. Mr. Miller says he never forgave her. When this
worthy officer attained rank and distinction, in her old age Mrs. Stanly found a
home under his hospitable roof, where she died. Mr. Stanly also died under
General Armstead's roof. His descendants, a number of
sons, were: I. John, idiotic from
birth. II. Alfred, resided in
Fairfax County, Virginia. III. Frank, became a
Methodist preacher. IV. Edward, was a member of
the house from Beaufort, 1844 to 1847.*
* For his sketch see Beaufort
County. V. Alexander.*--
* See our Living and our
Dead, November, 1874. VI. Fabius, United States
navy (retired admiral,) resided in Washington. VII. Cicero. VIII. James. Dr. Isaac Guion, of New
Berne, was surgeon to the First Regiment North Carolina Continentals, commanded
by Colonel James Moore. From neglect of duty he was suspended. On July 6th, 1776, he was
appointed commissary
"O, what a noble mind is here o'er
thrown,
The courtier's, soldier's, scholar's, eye, tongue sword.
Now see that noble and most sovereign
reason,
Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh."
Index - Contents
